5th Graders at Greenview Upper Elementary had the opportunity to meet and view a special presentation by Case Western Reserve University Professor Roy Ritzmann, on Tuesday, May 27th. As a faculty member of the Department of Biology, Professor Ritzmann’s research focuses on studying the movements of insects in their natural habitat, including the role of the brain and other parts of the nervous system. With the expertise of members of the Biorobotics Laboratory at CWRU, Professor Ritzmann has played a key role in the development of robots which mimic the movements of insects, specifically the cockroach. 5th grade students were provided an in-depth look at how the robots were constructed and mimic the structure and movement of cockroaches through an engaging SMART Board presentation. In addition, students were able to engage in hands-on learning, by viewing live specimens of cockroaches and a praying mantis. For the final segment of the presentation, the students participated in an interactive question and answer session with Professor Ritzmann.

The presentation also provided students the opportunity to make a real-world connection concerning topics and concepts covered in the classroom. Prior to the presentation, students had read and discussed an article in their science textbook titled “These Robots are Wild!” which detailed Professor Ritzmann and his research.